Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-15
Smith took from his pocket sheet Of Legal
cap paper, and IN clear and distinct voice

Thomas ]. Cuveriua, hold IN my hand
the Judgment and sentence OF the Hastings
Court OF the city of Richmond rendered on
the 9Th Gay OF October. 1883. which Ia "a
follows: IL IL considered by the Court tnat
the said Thomas J. Ciuverius be hanged by
the neck until be be dead. And it appear
Ing that the day heretofore nxed by lels
court for the execution Of It's judg ment and
seDtepcs rendered on the 9tn day OF June
1855. has passed, IL 10 ordered that the Ser
gebnt OF this city cause execution of the
sentence aforesaid 70 be done npon the salo
Thomas j. .luverius by hanging by the
neck until he be dead on Friday
the 10th day OF December. 1885, be-
tween The hours OF O'Clock In the
mrtping and oc ock In the afternoon OF
! that day, Of home convenient pace at or
ne, the city jail and only In the presence
| OF such officers OF the law as may be neces-
tsry 10 sect sentence OF the court is pro-
per1y carried into effect.
Through The clemency OF the Governor OF
this STATE, witnessed by this warrant, dated
tie 9Th day OF December, 1850, which
also hold In my hand, your execution on the
| ION dsy Of December, 1885. was respited
until this day: and nothing further having
| been received by the Sergeant OF this city
| In delay thereof, the sentence OF the court
will now be carried into effect.
HAD NOTHING TO SAY.
While MIR. Smith read the paper death
like silence peIyaded the enclosure, but the
mumblng OF voices on the outside was
percepuble. when the Sergeant finished
reading he turned to the prisoner and. IN
an undeTtone, asked If he wished 10 say
| anything. lie looked up INTO the Ser
| geant's face and, with pleasant express
| sion Of countenance, but with qulYering
| lips. said, ia tone which WIS scarcely
| audible 10 those nearest them, " No; / do
not wish 10 cay anything"
"NOt a word 7" queried the Sergeant.
"No, sir he replied.
DR. HATCHER PRAYs.
Sergeant Smith chen stood back and ma
| toned TO Dr. Hatcher, who stepped for
ward end said, Let u pray The Doe
tor. with his hat IN his hand, knelt down
and IN a clear voice and earnest manner,
said:
Oh, God, Thou art the sovereign and eter-
nal God; Tnou art the maker and ruler OF
| all things in heaven above and on the
| earth: Thou art our creator and our pre-
server and our Judge: Thou art infinite-ali
! wisdom and righteousness and Justice and
| mercy, and We rejoice that within Thee we
! have juoge that Is Infinite IN wisdom and
| Justice: that from Thee we have law that
! is eternal and Interchangeable and right. and
all that through Thy Son Jesus Christ.
| We have the offer OF the salvation that
| Is free and everlasting. We do bless Thee.
oh God, that Thou art accessible every
| where and at all times, and In the sor
row and distress OF this world we can call
| upon Thee, the living and ever merclful
| God We humbly beteech Thee TO come
| and look upon Thy servant now In this
| which is 10 be the hour OF his supreme afIl &C.
| tiOn and tIial, and We commend him 10
| Thy tender mercy In this hour when human
| law pronounces this sentence against him ;
| when human friendship and human sym.
| pHthies aTe uDaveiling. Oh, that the mer-
| cy OF God may be abundantlY bestowed
/ 90 a. hn frna 10
| forgiven; may lie be enabled TO hold a
| firm and sustaining grasp upon the prom.
| ises OF that saviour that years ago he con-
| fetEed. And we pray that the light OF the
| true God may shine into mis- mind, and that
! the promises Of the Lord may be 10 him
| full and right. Oh, God, our Father, we
! commit his spirit Into fhY hands and pray
that he may be able To say, 81 know In
| whom | have belief and am preserved -
| Oh, God, wilt Thou show Thy mercy upon
all who are here and upon the broken
| hearted ones who are away, we ask for our
| dear Redeemer's sake. Amen.
As DR.. Hatcher stepped forward Deputy
| Allen lifted Cluverius'S hat of and laid II
| on the railing of the scatlo.d. All during
the prayer, which lasted about four min
| uteS, Cluverius held his head down with
his eyes closed, and showed no other emo.
| ton than an unusual quiyeT or tremor
| about his oyelids.
80 ILL.wIIL TOWARD ANY ONE.
When Or. Hatcher had concluded his
PRAYER ne turned TO the prisoner, and, in
| an undertone, said something 10 hlm.
Cluverius said something to the Doctor,
which could not be heard, after which he
turned again to face the people assembled
| I'm the yard, and said: " ! am requested by
the prisoner TO utter just one word. That
| i, that i'm this the moment OF his death he
carries no illwill TO any man on earth.'
Dr. hatcher turned 10 the prisoner again
said, els that all?" With n nod Of the
head be said Yes" in a very low tone.
HIS FEET PINIONED.
Mr.. Hatcher, with his hat in his hand,
,hook hands with the prisoner, and said ::
"God bless you" There was a motion OF
! CluyeTius's lips, but If he said anything no
| one heard il.
MIR. Smith called TO one OF the pOlice-Ohi
GERS present 10 accompany DR.. Hatcher to
the prisOn-dOOr, and see him through the
crowd, and he left.
MIR. smith then shook hands with the
! prisoner and babe him final farewell
They said nothing but " Goodbye"
Sergeant Macon held the skirt OF The
cloak which was around Cluyerlus ont Of
together, using a piece OF common rope.
which was tied around his legs just beloH
the knees. When this was being done not
muscle in the prisoners limbs could be
seen 10 move.
THE ROPE ADJUSTED.
Deputy-SeTgeant Allen, after tying Gu.
veIius's legs, put the black silk cap. which
had long hood or skirt coming down over
his face and touching the shoulder, on his
head, and adjusted the silk rope about his
neck, leaving the knot Just back OF his left
ear. lie then retired, and left only Deputy
Sergeant Macon on the scaflold, and he
stood back OF CluyeriuS, so that be could
not see the prisoner face.
This was an awful time. Here stood
man Of twenty-five years OF age, educated,
well raised, and who two years ago had
promising future, and was looked upon
both as a man OF honor and Christian.
Now he stood upon the glllows con-
demncd murderer about to eXpiate his
crime by dying the most dlsgraceful OF all
deaths. lie stood ii with wonderful courage.
The iron nerve which had Characterized
him during the whole time OF twenty-twO
months since the murder was committed
and he was arrested seemed TO be still with
MN, ana ne ldCtu iuls uNiui tuu NitHuHt
1ipchmg. When the black cap was being
nut on his head his face turned redder than
il has ever been seen before, but still he did
not even shudder.
HORRIBLE DEATH.
At l:0Sl O'Clock Deputy Sergeant Macon
gave a signal. and Deputy-Sergeant John
son, who was concealed in the. fourth cell
from the east end Of the lower floor OF the
prison (which is Just back OF where the
scafIoId stoOd), ierked the chord. The
bolt and all parts of the gallows which
were to move had been well creased, and
they worked perfectly.
When the drop was made many people
turned their heads and look away from the
.catiold, but largely the majority OF them
gaZed upon the victim and watched every
movement Of his body. Some became very
nervous, but most of them watched the
dreadful spectacle without being moved in
the least.
AS the cord was drawn the bolt drew out
and the trap. door fell. Thomas Judson
Cluverlus was DO more. lie shot through
the opening made by the springing OF the
door like bullet from rifle. He whlrled
around about seven or eight times
until the rope was straight, aud then
for about five seconds stood suspend
ed in midair as II life was ex'
tinct. Then there commenced slight
twitehlug of his feet aud legs, which be-
came more and more violent until they be.
came like severe snasm. His limbs would
L.